Electric switch.



No. 675,07. v Patented May 28. IBM. 6. B. THOMAS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1901.

(No Model.)

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ATTOR N EYS.

PHOTO-HMO" WASNINQTON, a .c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. THOMAS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PERKINSELECTRIC SWITCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,177, dated May 28,1901.

Application filed February 15,1901- Serial No. 47,487. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in Hartford, in the county of Hartford, State ofConnecticut,have invented Improvements in ElectricSwitches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce an economically manufacturedelectric switch which will also be more durable than like switches asordinarily constructed.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention as applied to asin gle-pole rotary snap-switch; but it will be understood that myimprovements are applicable to switches of other styles.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of asingle-pole rotary snapswitch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional plan view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, but with the position ofthe rotary part of the switch changed. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are viewsof details.

The particular form of switch illustrated in the drawings is constructedon the principle of the rotary snap-switch for which the Gibbs patent,No. 517,100, dated March 27, 1894, was granted; but I do not intend toconfine my invention to this particular style of switch.

In Figs. 1 and 2, A represents an insulatingbase, preferably ofporcelain, to'which are secured the binding-posts P P and the stationaryspring contact-fingers 1d 10, the latter being clamped in place betweenthe posts P P and the base, Fig. 1. B is the vertical rotary spindle,adapted to turn in the base and having an operating-handle b at the topand a quick-screw-threaded portion 6 engaging a threaded part of across-piece D. The opposite ends of this cross-piece D are provided orformed with contacts (1 to make contact with the spring-fingers p p whenthe cross-bar is turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, but to breakcontact when the bar is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2. Theunder side of the cross-piece D is provided with a projection or pawl,hereinafter described, to engage with the ratchet-teeth of a fixedstop-plate E, secured to the base A. A coiled spring F around thespindle and secured thereto at f at one end bears at the other endagainst a suitable projection on the cross-piece D to rotate the latterwhen its projection or pawl is released from a tooth of the stop-plateE. On turning the handle of the spindle in the direction of the arrow,Fig. 2, the rotation of its screw will lift the crosspiece D against theaction of the spring F until the under projection or pawl is releasedfrom the engaging tooth of the stop-plate E,

whereupon the spring F, which has been put under tension by the partialrotation of the spindle B,will cause the cross-piece D to rotate with aquick snap until its pawl engages with the next tooth of the stop-plateE. As shown in Fig. 6, there are four of these ratchet-teeth e e on thestop-plate. In these switches as heretofore made these stop-plates havebeen constructed from a brass casting; but this, besides being expensiveand troublesome to make, wears out too rapidly. I make the stop plate bystamping it up out of sheet-steel. I form a blank in the shape of a disk15 with a central opening and two lugs 16 16, as shown in Fig. 5, andthese lugs are bent down, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, to fit intocorresponding holes formed in the porcelain, Fig. 1, to hold the platefrom turning, and I press out of the body of the disk 15 on the facethereof the several ratchet-teeth e e, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.This forms a more economically-constructed but more durable device thanif made of a brass casting.

To produce economically an equally-dura ble pawl or projection on theunder side of the cross-piece D to engage with these ratchetteeth whilehaving the electrical contacts of the piece D of brass or like suitablematerial, I make the said cross-piece of two parts, one stamped orpressed up out of sheet-brass and the other a strip of steel,which isthe part to receive the chief mechanical wear and strain. The latter isillustrated in Fig. 3 and consists of a short piece of steel 17 ,with ahole 18 punched through and with a downwardly-bent nose 19, reduced inwidth. The construction of the sheet-brass part will be understood onreference to Figs. 1, 2, and 4. It is made of a flat plate 20, withupturned ends 21 21 to form the contacts, and preferably side flanges22,

and midway or thereabout I form on one or on each side an upwardly-bentand notched finger 24:, with which the lower or free end of the spiralspring F may engage, Fig. 2. Two holes are formed in the body of theplate 20, one for the passage of the spindle B and the other for thepassage of the nose 19, to form the pawl or projection to engage withthe ratchet-teeth e 6. hen the steel piece 17 has been put in place inthe plate 20 between the side flanges 22, lugs 23 (four in the presentinstance) are bent down over the piece 17 to clasp and hold it firmly inplace. The corresponding holes in the two pieces of metal are now tappedto receive the threaded portion of the spindle B, as shown in Fig. 1.

I claim as my invention 1. An electric switch provided with a movingpart, consisting of two pieces of metal, one to receive the mechanicalwear and the other of sheet metal formed with contacts and holding andembracing the first piece, sub stantially as described.

2. An electric switch provided with stationary contacts and astop-piece, in combination with a rotary part, consisting of asheet-metal plate formed with contacts at the ends and a separatemetallic piece having a nose to engage the stop-piece and embraced andheld by the said plate, substantially as described.

The rotary member of an electric switch, comprising a sheet-metal platewith bent ends for the contacts, and a piece with a nose projectingthrough an opening in said plate, which latter has parts embracing andholding the nosepi'ece, substantially as described.

4. The rotary member of an electric switch, comprising a sheet-metalplate with bent ends for contacts, bent fingers to receive the actl1-ating-spring and bent lugs to hold the separate nosepiece, incombination with the nosepiece so secured to the plate, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE E. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

G. W. Goonnmon, E. 13. FORD.

